index

Which laser takes which material

Pick a material and a job. The matcher shows what diode, CO2 and fiber makers publish about it, word for word, with the link. Where two makers contradict each other, it says so instead of picking a side.

The full board: 22 materials, 3 laser types, 2 jobs

Each cell counts maker statements, not lab tests. Click a material for the quotes behind every cell.

YES x2 two or more makers say yesNO x2 two or more say noMAKERS SPLIT makers contradict each other1 SOURCE one maker page only, not confirmedNO STATEMENT nothing publishedIF = yes only under a stated condition
MaterialDiode engraveDiode cutCO2 engraveCO2 cutFiber engraveFiber cut
ABS plasticNO STATEMENTNO STATEMENTMAKERS SPLITNO x21 SOURCE: YESNO STATEMENT
Anodized aluminumYES x2NO STATEMENT1 SOURCE: YESNO STATEMENTYES x2NO STATEMENT
Ceramic and tileYES x1 +1 IFNO STATEMENTYES x21 SOURCE: NO1 SOURCE: YESNO STATEMENT
Clear and transparent acrylicNO x4NO x3YES x3YES x3NO x3NO x2
Coated carbon fiber1 SOURCE: NONO STATEMENTNO STATEMENTNO x2NO STATEMENTNO STATEMENT
CorkYES x21 SOURCE: YESYES x2YES x2NO STATEMENTNO STATEMENT
Dark and opaque acrylicYES x3YES x3YES x2YES x2YES x21 SOURCE: NO
Fabric and feltYES x2YES x1 +1 IFYES x2YES x21 SOURCE: NONO STATEMENT
Faux leather, pleather, leatheretteNO x2NO x2NO x2NO x21 SOURCE: NO1 SOURCE: NO
Fiberglass and epoxyNO STATEMENTNO STATEMENT1 SOURCE: NO1 SOURCE: NONO STATEMENTNO STATEMENT
Foam (polystyrene, polypropylene)NO STATEMENT1 SOURCE: YESNO STATEMENTMAKERS SPLITNO STATEMENT1 SOURCE: NO
Genuine leatherYES x2YES x2YES x3YES x1 +1 IFMAKERS SPLIT1 SOURCE: NO
GlassNO x2 +1 IFNO STATEMENTYES x2 +1 IFNO x2NO x2NO STATEMENT
HDPE and other polyethylene1 SOURCE: YESNO STATEMENTMAKERS SPLITNO x21 SOURCE: YESNO STATEMENT
Laser rubberYES x2NO STATEMENTYES x2YES x21 SOURCE: YESNO STATEMENT
Paper and cardstockYES x2YES x2YES x2YES x21 SOURCE: YESNO STATEMENT
Plywood and MDF1 SOURCE: YES1 SOURCE: YESYES x2YES x2 +1 IF1 SOURCE: NO1 SOURCE: NO
Polycarbonate (Lexan)NO STATEMENTNO STATEMENT1 SOURCE: NONO x1 +2 IFNO STATEMENTNO STATEMENT
PVC and vinylMAKERS SPLITNO x3NO x3NO x3MAKERS SPLITNO x2
Solid wood (hardwood and softwood)YES x3YES x2YES x3YES x2NO x3NO x2
Stainless steel (bare)MAKERS SPLITMAKERS SPLITNO x3NO x2YES x4YES x2 +1 IF
Stone, slate and marbleYES x3NO STATEMENTYES x21 SOURCE: NOYES x2NO STATEMENT

What the board is built from

23 pages from 15 organisations: laser makers (xTool, Glowforge, OMTech, Monport, Epilog, Full Spectrum Laser, Boss Laser, Creality Falcon, FumeClear), four retailers used as second sources for machine specs, and two US agencies (OSHA and FDA) for the safety wording. Every one is listed on the source register with the date read.

Fumes come with every job on this board. The fume and room lookup compares a machine's published exhaust figure with the airflow extractor makers publish.